MAKKAH: Those intending to register for a mujamalah visa to perform their pilgrimage have been advised to choose only licensed haj pilgrimage operators (PJH).
These are companies which are licensed by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) to organise pilgrimages and provide mujamalah visas, which are special visas provided by the Saudi Arabian government specifically for a person to perform the haj.
Under Section 27 of the Tabung Haji Act 1995, it is an offence for a company that is not a PJH to offer haj packages or operate pilgrimages.
TH haj delegation head Datuk Seri Syed Salleh Syed Abdul Rahman said, every year, the agency would announce the official quota provided for Malaysia, with this year's being 31,600 pilgrims.
"This official quota is for haj visas issued by the Saudi Arabian Haj and Umrah Ministry. However, apart from the haj visa, there is also the mujamalah visa which is issued by the Saudi Arabian government to certain people in special cases," he said.
PJH agencies and companies have been carefully screened to ensure they have financial capability, a good track record of management, and are trusted as reputable companies to handle mujamalah visas, he said.
"As such, in the licensing process, TH can provide assurances that prospective pilgrims can feel confident, insyaAllah, in the management of their pilgrimage, that they will be safe and that their welfare will be taken care of," he said.
At present, there are 25 PJH registered under TH.
These include its subsidiary, TH Travel & Services Sdn Bhd, and Andalusia Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd.